Famous since the age of twelve, sugary sweet idol Ai Kago grew up in the limelight. By the time she turned 18, that light had dimmed. During the past few weeks, Kago's been on television, first for Yakuza connections. The second reason is far more tragic: Ai Kago tried to kill herself.

If you've played a Japanese video game, watched an anime, or read a manga, you've seen them: schoolgirls. Idols, in particular, are the lighter, fluffy end of the spectrum. They stand for the fantasies of their fans.

Singer Reina Tanaka was never a lighting rod for controversy. The twenty year-old is a member of the popular girl group Morning Musume. She has her own anime and a spin-off mobile phone game. That is, until she offended Koreans.

Prolific Japanese music producer Mitsuo Terada (aka "Tsunku") is best known for producing idol J poppppp group Morning Musume and helping to launch the career of singers like Aya Matsuura. He also created Rhythm Heaven.